Abstract:

Objective To explore the relationship of chronic disease-related behaviors between housewives and their family members. Methods Investigations of chronic disease-related behaviors (smoking, high-salt intake, high-fat intake, lack of physical activity, breakfast skipping and sleep disorder) based on self-designed questionnaires were carried out in 283 female residents selected from a community of Shanghai, and 278 effective questionnaires were recovered from 202 housewives (housewife group) and 76 non-housewives (control group). The prevalences of chronic disease-related behaviors were compared between housewife group and control group, and the prevalences of these behaviors were compared between family members of those with these behaviors in housewife group and control group. Results There was no significant difference in the prevalences of behaviors of smoking, high-salt intake, high-fat intake, lack of physical activity, breakfast skipping and sleep disorder between housewife group and control group （P>0.05）. The prevalences of behaviors of high-salt intake, high-fat intake and lack of physical activity of family members of those with these behaviors in housewife group were significantly higher than those of family members of women with these behaviors in control group (P＜0.05）, while there was no significant difference in the prevalences of behaviors of smoking, breakfast skipping and sleep disorder between family members of those with these behaviors in housewife group and those of women with these behaviors in control group （P>0.05）. Conclusion The chronic disease-related behaviors of high-salt intake, high-fat intake and lack of physical activity of housewives may be associated with those of their family members.

Key words: housewife, related behavior of chronic diseases, family member